Today is the first day of fall, the autumnal equinox. There are two equinoxes per year, spring and fall. The changing of seasons to summer and winter are marked by solstices. During an equinox, the sun is directly over the equator, so day and night are equivalent. Now our daylight hours will shorten rapidly, and our nights lengthen until we hit the longest night of the year in December.

 

Now we modern people barely notice the changing of the seasons, only noting it if we happen to glance at a calendar. In ancient times, the fall equinox was celebrated with festivals. The Celts of Ireland, Wales and Britain celebrated the sabbat (festival) of Mabon during the equinox. Mabon was a Welsh god and the son of Modron, the great mother goddess. To the Celts, this was primarily a harvest festival. It wouldn’t hurt us to impart a little festivity into our lives at this time of year, and more importantly, see what’s happening in the natural world around us.

 

Part of spending more time outdoors is learning to be in tune with the seasons. See the leaves change color, watch for V’s of geese flying south, smell the crisp air. Fall is a wonderful time for hiking, camping, bird watching or lighting a fire in the fire pit.

Are you cut off from nature? In today’s age, this is a common problem with people in developed countries such as the U.S. We drive everywhere; many people live in large urban areas with little green space; we don’t grow our own food, and electronics give us our entertainment. When was the last time you spent more time outside than it takes to walk from the door of whatever building you’re in (home, school, store) to your car?

 

Frankly, our disconnection from nature can be even deeper than our lack of time spent outdoors. Look around the room you’re in right now (the one that houses your computer). Can you see outside? Many office spaces lack windows, which is a sad commentary on our society. At home, we tend to keep blinds or curtains closed over other windows, thus “blocking out” the outside, which is even sadder. When we can’t see out the window, we deprive ourselves of information our ancestors would have considered valuable — whether it was raining, snowing, sunny, or windy. We tend to think of ourselves as apart from nature, somehow above its influences, but a prolonged disconnection with the outdoors can have a detrimental effect on our moods.

 

Think about how you feel stepping into a dim house where all the curtains are shut. You may feel tired, depressed, anxious or restless. Kids can feel the same way. In fact, there are many reasons children should be able to see outside (and go outside to play!). In his book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv reports that girls who have some natural view from their homes concentrate better and act less impulsively, increasing their chances of succeeding in school and life.

 

Louv also cites studies of surgery patients who recovered more quickly if they had a view of natural settings as opposed to brick walls and of prison inmates who suffered fewer illnesses if they lived in cells with windows facing farmland rather than the prison courtyard. This all boils down to the fact that cutting ourselves off from nature is not good for us physically or emotionally.

 

Find something to do outside rather than just walking to and from your car, and open the curtains in your house. A little contact with nature every day, even if it’s just a view of some bushes and a patch of grass, is beneficial. Acknowledge nature and reap the benefits.

Labor Day usually marks the end of summer for most people, though the equinox isn’t until Sept. 22. If the last few days are any indication, fall is here. While the songbirds have left, or are in the process of flying south, it may seem quieter outdoors; however, if you listen, you’ll be able to hear the sounds of autumn.

 

As waterfowl gather, they seem to “talk” to each other more. The ducks and geese at the pond by my house have been quacking and honking quite a bit lately. As these birds begin to congregate before heading south later this fall, you’ll be able to hear them a great deal. My favorite fall bird sound is that of migrating Sandhill Cranes. Their guttural crowing is unmistakable once you’ve learned to identify it; when you hear it look up – way up – because they fly very high.

 

I’ve also noticed an increase in the coyotes’ howling lately. The pups are growing up and learning to be “big coyotes” and spend more time talking amongst themselves. Whereas they were pretty quiet all summer, recent nights and early mornings have been filled with yipping. If you happen to hear coyotes, stop what you’re doing and listen because they’ll howl for a few minutes and then abruptly quit.

 

Lastly, the rarest sound of fall for most people, but tremendously exciting, is the bugle of the bull elk. With a mind-boggling range of sounds, rutting bulls break into song every fall to attract cow elk. I’ve been listening lately and haven’t heard them yet, but with the advent of cooler weather, the rut is right around the corner. Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park are probably your best bets for hearing elk bugle, but there are elk throughout the Black Hills. Early evening and early morning are the best times to listen. Be sure not to go too close to the elk – just listen, don’t interfere.